The price of gold dropped by THB50 in morning trade on Tuesday.
AGold Traders Association report at 9.25am said the buying price of a gold bar was THB27,750 per baht weight and selling price THB27,850, while gold ornaments cost THB27,257.68 and THB28,350, respectively.
At close on Monday, the buying price of a gold bar was THB27,800 per baht weight and selling price THB27,900, while gold ornaments cost THB27,303.16 and THB28,400, respectively.
Seven-day rising streak to continue for SET as lockdown eased
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index dropped by 1.12 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 1,632.65 on Tuesday morning.
The SET Index closed at 1,633.77 on Monday, up 22.57 points or 1.40 per cent. Transactions totalled THB117.38 billion with an index high of 1,634.92 and a low of 1,621.42 as the SET rose for a seventh successive day.
Krungsri Securities expected the index on Tuesday to rise to between 1,640 and 1,645 before alternating to weaken, as there is support for the market conditions after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would not rush to raise the interest rate, despite the reduction of the quantitative easing measure in 2021.
Krungsri Securities added that the index also gained positive sentiment from the government’s move to ease lockdown measures as domestic infections are declining.
“However, there is an expectation of late-sell pressure from MSCI Rebalance reducing the weight of the emerging markets group by 0.03 per cent (around $112 million), which will pressure the index to weaken,” Krungsri Securities said.
It recommended selective buying as an investment strategy:
AOT, KBANK, BBL, CPN, CRC, HMPRO, AAV, BA, MINT, AMATA and WHA, which would benefit from the country’s reopening.
PSL, TTA and RCL, which would benefit from a rise in the freight rate.
CKP, BANPU, GPSC, BCH and CHG, which would benefit from the growth in the third quarter.
MP claims THB2 billion went missing in Sinovac procurement
A Pheu Thai MP on Tuesday claimed 2 billion baht has gone missing in the government’s procurement of Sinovac vaccine.
Speaking on the first morning of the no-confidence debate against the government, opposition MP Prasert Chantaruangthong alleged malfeasance in deals to buy 18.5 million doses since February.
He claimed the government had paid less than the on-paper price for Sinovac.
“The budget approved by the Cabinet was 10.846 billion baht but the actual purchase price was 8.748 billion – a difference of 2.098 billion baht. Whose money is this?” said Prasert.
He added that Sinovac was not bought under the Government Procurement and Supplies Administration Act 2017 but instead commercially purchased by the “death-dealing” Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO).
It was not a government-to-government (G-to-G) purchase and was subject to VAT of 6.8 million baht, he said.
The chiefs of the GPO, Department of Disease Control (DDC) and National Vaccine Institute (NVI) were quick to defend the procurement.
GPO chief Witoon Danwiboon said the GPO took the role of importer because Sinovac had no representative in Thailand.
Addressing the claim that Sinovac was bought at an inflated price, Witoon said the GPO had purchased the first batch of 2 million doses at the “research price” offered to Brazil and Indonesia of US$17 per dose. However, after negotiations on bulk purchase, the price was reduced to an average of $11.99, he said.
He rejected Prasert’s allegation that the real price paid for the doses was less than the price on paper, saying the GPO had purchased the vaccine with its own budget.
“Once the vaccine is obtained [by the GPO], it is sold to the Department of Disease Control, which takes charge of the budget by setting costs to transport and administer the vaccine.”
DDC director Opas Karnkawinpong said cross-vaccination with Sinovac and AstraZeneca three weeks apart had proved as effective as two AstraZeneca jabs and generated immunity more quickly to combat Thailand’s wave of Delta infections.
NVI director Nakorn Premsri added the government had not joined the Covax vaccine-sharing project because Thailand is among the countries that have to pay for Covax doses, which are limited.
However, Thailand would consider joining Covax if those conditions improve, Nakorn said.
Supreme Court dismisses case against PAD leaders over 2008 rallies
The Supreme Court has dismissed a case against leaders of the yellow-shirt Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) over their rallies in 2008, ruling the charges duplicated those in another case.
On Tuesday, former PAD leaders Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pipop Thongchai, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Somsak Kosaisook and Suriyasai Katasila appeared in court in Bangkok.
They were accused of sedition, illegal gatherings and creating turmoil in the country, in violation of articles 116, 215 and 216 of the Criminal Code.
The charges stemmed from rallies against the Samak Sundaravej government, held on Ratchadamnoen Road between May 25 and October 5.
The accusations were dismissed by the court of first instance on July 20, 2017, as they duplicated charges against the PAD over protesters’ invasion of Government House. The court ruled the six defendants had already been punished with two-year jail terms.
The Appeal Court upheld the dismissal on January 30, 2019 – a ruling confirmed by the Supreme Court today.
However, the Supreme Court sentenced three other former PAD leaders – Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornratananont and Terdpoom Jaidee – to eight months each in prison for sedition.
Nakhon Sawan cop intended to kill drug suspect, prosecutor alleges
The autopsy result of a male drug suspect who died during interrogation by former Nakhon Sawan police station chief Pol Colonel Thitisan Uthanapol on August 5 indicated the victim had died of suffocation, said Somphong Yenkaew, deputy chief of the Region 6 Public Prosecutors Office on Tuesday.
Complaints filed against Thitisan by other officers said he allegedly demanded 2 million baht from two suspects, a man and a woman, in a narcotics case before “suffocating the man to death” with plastic bags. Thitisan then allegedly ordered a doctor to put the cause of death down to drug overdose and told the woman to keep quiet before releasing her.
The former police station chief was fired from the force on August 25 and was arrested the next day in Chonburi province.
“The victim’s head was covered with six layers of plastic bags, with the innermost layer clinging tightly to his face and therefore restricting his airway,” Somphong said.
“Moreover, the victim’s head was forced in a downward position, then he was pinned to the ground, which made breathing even harder,” Somphong stated.
Nakhon Sawan cop intended to kill drug suspect, prosecutor alleges
“CCTV footage revealed that the layers of plastic were tightly twisted around the victim’s neck for more than six minutes,” he added.
“Although traces of drug were found in the victim’s body, the covering of the victim’s head in such a manner was enough to kill him. Therefore, the cause of death is concluded as suffocation,” Somphong said.
Nakhon Sawan cop intended to kill drug suspect, prosecutor alleges
He also said the prosecutor and investigation officers agreed that Thitisan and six other suspects who were involved in the interrogation intended to kill the suspect.
“The reason claimed by Thitisan that he used this technique to get the victim to reveal where he got the drugs from is therefore inadmissible,” Somphong said, adding: “Please rest assured that the prosecutor will investigate this case carefully step by step, which should be completed in a timely manner.”
Gun-wielding underage protester surrenders, says weapon had no bullets
Parents of a 16-year-old boy took their son to Pakkred police station in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday to turn him in after a picture of the teen pointing a gun at crowd-control police at a “Thalu Gas” anti-government group rally on August 29 went viral on social media.
The rallyists had gathered at Sam Liam Din Daeng junction in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district on Sunday evening and tried to march toward Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, but police used water cannons to block them. The protesters then started lobbing firecrackers, ping pong bombs, flares and Molotov cocktails at police officers, who responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas. The rally lasted until 11pm, after which the protesters gradually dispersed.
The boy’s father said he recognised his son from the photo and decided to turn him in as he believed the boy would soon be summoned by police.
The teenager reportedly said that the gun he brandished at the rally was a Thai-made one with no bullets, and that he only meant to threaten the police to stop “harming” the protesters.
“At 8pm I road a motorcycle back home and threw the gun into the Chao Phraya River from the Pathum Thani 1 Bridge,” he revealed.
Thailand recorded 14,802 Covid-19 cases and 252 deaths on Wednesday
Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (September 1) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 14,802 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 217 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 252, while 18,996 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,219,531 with 11,841 total deaths.
Thundershowers with isolated heavy rains forecast across country
Thailand will experience thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in some areas, especially in the lower North, the Central region and the Northeast, as a strong monsoon trough hovers over these areas and the southwest monsoon prevails across the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
It advised people in risky areas to beware of severe conditions that may cause flash floods.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.
North: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.
East: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
Public Health Ministry keeps close eye out for C.1.2 variant
Though more than 31 million people in Thailand have received at least one jab against Covid-19, many people are voicing concerns about whether they are protected against the new, more lethal C.1.2 variant.
This variant was recently detected in South Africa, and it is still not known if the vaccines available will be effective against it.
Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director for emergency health hazards and diseases, said the C.1.2 strain has not yet been found in Thailand and that the main variant affecting 92 per cent of the patients is still Delta.
He based this declaration on the fact that the genetics of approximately 500 samples are surveyed weekly.
However, he said, the Public Health Ministry is aware of this strain and is monitoring the situation closely.
Protester develops lung problems after catching Covid in jail
Four of five pro-democracy protest leaders who caught Covid-19 in prison are recovering well, but one has developed lung complications, according to the Department of Corrections.
Department deputy director-general Thawatchai Chaiwat on Monday issued a statement on the treatment of “Penguin and friends” – referring to Parit “Penguin” Cheewarak, Promsorn “Fah” Weerathamcharee, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, Jatupat “Pai Daodin” Boonpathararaksa and Chatchai Kaedam.
The five protesters were examined by the doctor at the prison on Monday. All were reported to have normal vital signs and oxygen levels. Thawatchai reported that four of them had almost recovered, but Chatchai had developed lung trouble and needed close monitoring by doctors.
Thawatchai also responded to a viral Facebook post that read, “Police who kill get privileges including visits from people close to them. But people who attend protests are held in solitary confinement for 19 days and are banned from seeing their mothers. Even meetings with their lawyers have to be by video only.”
He said that the Department of Corrections had sought to prevent the virus spreading in prisons by banning visits from relatives. Virtual visits can still be made via the Line app, which can also be used to deposit money and buy necessities from the inmates’ welfare shop, he added.
“There is no special exemption for any inmates. Therefore, the public needs to trust in the work of the Department of Corrections in treating all inmates equally. Please do not be deceived. I guarantee that all the sick inmates are being treated properly by medical staff in line with public health standards and human rights principles,” Thawatchai said.
Nakhon Sawan cop intended to kill drug suspect, prosecutor alleges
Nakhon Sawan cop intended to kill drug suspect, prosecutor alleges
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